ericlustbader.the ninja-第71章

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nge　around　him　towards　Yukio。　Nicholas　stepped　into　his　path；　using　his　shoulder　and　his　left　arm　as　a　wedge　against　the　doorframe。　Yukio　stepped　lithely　away。
　'I　think　you　had　better　tell　me　what　this　is　all　about。'
　Saigo　heard　the　warning　note　in　Nicholas's　voice　and　he　felt　his　blood　boil。　Leaned　forward　with　the　left　side　of　his　body；　half…concealing　the　horizontal　movement　of　his　right　hand　and　wrist。
　Nicholas　brought　his　forearm　down　in　a　blur；　striking　the　exposed　bone　in　Saigo's　wrist。　Physical　damage　was　minimal　but　nerve　disruption　was　considerable。　The　hand　went　numb。
　They　were　very　close　together　and　Saigo　used　his　foot；　aiming　for　the　side　of　the　knee。　The　doorjamb　was　his　ally；　caught　in　the　force　of　the　blow；　Nicholas's　knee　would　shatter　like　crystal。　But　he　stepped　back　and　the　side　of　Saigo's　foot　slammed　into　the　wood　with　a　crack　as　loud　and　as　sharp　as　that　of　a　house　collapsing。
　Saigo　recovered　enough　to　whirl　around　and　head　off　down　the　corridor　before　Nicholas　had　a　chance　to　react。　Without　a　word；　Nicholas　went　after　him。
　Yukio　ran　to　the　door。　'Nicholas！'　she　cried　after　him。　Then　she；　too；　followed　in　Saigo's　wake。
　The　angelfish；　all　grey　lace；　hovered　near　the　bottom。　It's　tiny　mouth　opened　and　closed。　It　might　have　been　trying　to　eat　the　algae　off　the　side　of　the　tank。
　A　pair　of　gourami　passed　by　it；　disturbing　its　concentration；　and　it　darted　off　behind　a　group　of　three　or　four　water　plants　twisting　gently　in　the　clouds　of　rising　bubbles　from　the　aerator。
　They　stood　across　the　street；　in　the　deep　shadow　of　a　doorway。　The　street　was　quiet；　every　step　of　the　few　passers…by　discernible。
　'What　are　you　waiting　for？'
　'Quiet；'　Nicholas　said；　thinking；　twelve；　thirteen；　fourteen。
　A　young　couple　turned　a　corner；　came　down　the　street。　He　gave　the　man　a　quick　glance；　went　back　to　watching　the　front　door　of　the　fish　store　where　Saigo　had　disappeared　moments　before。　Twenty…one；　twenty…two；　twenty…three。　When　he　had　reached　thirty　and　there　was　still　no　sign；　he　took　Yukio　by　the　hand　and　went　across　the　street。
　A　tiny　bell　rang　in　the　back　of　the　shop　like　a　call　to　the　penitent。　It　was　a　narrow；　bare　floor　boarded　place；　its　walls　stocked　with　glass　tanks　of　varying　sizes。　Only　one　or　two　were　dry；　cloudy　with　dust。
　A　man；　thin；　worn　down　by　the　passage　of　time；　his　skin　as　grey　as　yesterday's　mist；　sat　on　a　high　wooden　stool　in　front　of　a　wall　filled　with　filters；　rolls　of　clear　plastic　tubing　and　stacked　boxes　of　dried　fish　food。
　No　one　was　in　the　shop。
　'Is　there　a　back　way　out　of　here？'　Nicholas　asked　him。
　'Hm？'　He　looked　up　belatedly。　'Oh；　yes　but　…'
　Nicholas；　with　Yukio　a　step　behind　him；　was　already　loping　past　him；　through　the　short；　dark　passageway　and　out　at　the　unbolted　door。
　They　found　themselves　in　a　dim　brick　alleyway　that　was　more　a　cul…de…sac。　Only　one　way　for　Saigo　to　have　gone　and　they　followed。
　They　spotted　him；　already　a　block　away；　heading　west。　Twice
　he　doubled　back　and　once；　when　he　thought　he　had　lost　him　altogether；　Nicholas　began　to　sweat　because　he　didn't　think　now　that　he　would　get　a　second　chance；　Yukio　had　seen　to　that。　But　they　got　lucky。　He　had　been　hidden　within　a　small　jostling　crowd　around　a　news　kiosk；　in　plain　sight；　really。　It　might　have　been　accidental　or　an　extremely　sophisticated　manoeuvre。　There　was　no　way　of　telling。　But　the　question　remained。　Why　was　Saigo　taking　any　precautions　at　all？　Why　was　he　concerned　about　being　followed？
　Above　their　heads　a　full　moon　rode；　blue…white；　as　large　as　a　hanging　paper　lantern；　harbinger　of　winter's　first　snow。　Clouds　appearing　as　flat　and　substantial　as　curtains　turned　the　illumination　inconstant　and；　with　it；　perspective　kept　changing　so　that　Nicholas　was　obliged　to　stop　them　now　and　again　to　check　their　proximity　to　the　dark；　hurrying　figure　in　front。
　Once　Saigo　turned　around；　his　face　a　pale　blur　struck　by　the　moonlight；　and　Nicholas　forced　Yukio　into　a　doorway；　hearing　only　the　soft　rasp　of　her　violent　breathing　and　the　hammering　of　his　own　heart。
　…Saigo's　silhouette　was　fast　diminishing　down　the　dark　street　and　he　grabbed　her　hand；　pulling　her　along　until；　at　length；　he　saw　his　quarry　pause　before　a　narrow　doorway　in　a　rather　rundown　wood…frame　building；　windowless　and　hulking。　Disappeared　like　a　nocturnal　animal。
　Nicholas　stood　perfectly　still　in　deep　shadow　with　Yukio　by　his　side　for　several　moments。　'Now；'　he　said　in　a　low　tone　and　took　her；　running　across　the　wide　street。
　There　was　no　sign　on　the　building's　face　to　indicate　what　it　might　contain；　no　bells　to　ring。　Nothing。　The　door　was　metal；　painted　in　deep　red　enamel。　He　grasped　the　brass　handle　half　expecting　the　door　to　be　locked。　Pulled　it　open。
　Inside；　they　found　themselves　in　a　plain　hallway　without　a　true　ceiling。　A　wide　industrial…type　stairway　led　upwards；　it　too　was　metal。　There　were　no　doorways　on　the　ground　level。　Nor　were　there　any　on　the　first　floor；　they　discovered。　There　seemed　to　be　a　lot　of　empty　space；　however。
　The　building　seemed　silent　but　for　a　peculiar　kind　of　intermittent　vibration　ing　through　the　rough　wooden　planks　；　of　the　vast　landings。
　They　found　the　one　door　…　closed　and　padlocked　…　on　the　third　floor。　Yukio　coughed　twice　before　putting　her　palm　against　her　mouth；　there　seemed　to　be　a　great　deal　of　sawdust　hanging　in　the　unquiet　air。
　One　had　an　odd　feeling　here。　Not　merely　the　prickly　sensation　of　trespassing　but　the　unfortable　hollowness　in　the　pit　of　the…stomach　that　might　e　from　standing　in　the　foyer　of　a　haunted　house　at　midnight。
　'I　want　to　get　out　of　here；'　Yukio　whispered　in　his　ear。　She　tugged　at　Nicholas's　arm。
　'Shhh。'
　He　went　slowly；　cautiously　across　the　landing　towards　the　closed　door。　He　had　thought　…　yes。　The　light　was　so　dim　that　he　had　not　been　certain。　But　now　as　he　approached；　he　saw　clearly　the　sign　that　had　been　hand…painted　in　black　ink　squarely　on　the　centre　of　the　door：　a　circle　within　which　were　nine　black　diamonds。　They　in　turn　surrounded　an　ideogram；　Komuso。
　Nicholas　stared　at　the　sign。　Where　had　he　seen　that　before？　Surely　he　had　…　a　ryu。　It　was　a　ryu。　But　which　one？　He　had　seen　this　sign　quite　recently。　Just　before　he　had　left　Tokyo；　in　fact。　A　regional　offshoot；　perhaps。　Or　…
　Abruptly；　he　reached　for　Yukio's　hand；　backing　away。
　'What　is　it？'　she　whispered。　'Where　are　we？'
　'e　on；'　he　said。　And　then；　jerking　her　along　with　him；　'e　on！'
　Outside　in　the　street　he　found　that　he　still　could　not　breathe。　He　began　to　run　down　the　street　with　her　in　tow。　The　night　seemed　terribly　still；　Kumamoto　deserted；　and　he　had　the　impression　that　they　were　the　only　people　abroad　that　night　that　they　fled　through　a　dreamscape　from　which　they　might　never　emerge。
　His　head　pounded　as　if　it　might　burst　and　a　kind　of　fever　careened　through　him。　His　mind　whirled　uncontrollably　and　he　only　vaguely　heard　Yukio's　panting　questions。
　He　had　recognized　the　sign　on　the　door　and；　with　it；　both　the　reason　he　had　e　here　after　Saigo　and　the　nature　of　his　immediate　future。
　Back　at　the　hotel；　he　left　Yukio　to　go　to　her　room　alone。
　'Won't　you　tell　me　anything？'
　'In　a　while；'　he　said；　still　half　distracted。　'Take　a　bath　or　something。　I'll　be　in　a　little　while。'
　'You're　not　going　out　again；'　she　said　worriedly。　'I　don't　want　to　be　here　alone。'
　'Don't　worry。　I'll　just　be　in　the　next　room。'
　Once　inside；　he　crossed　to　the　window。　The　darkness　seemed　absolute。　But　still；　perhaps　only　because　the　proprietor　had　mentioned　it；　he　thought　he　could　see　the　white　plume　of　pumice　belching　from　Nakadake；　Mount　Aso's　fifth　column。
　There　was　no　doubt　in　his　'mind　now　why　Saigo　had　travelled　such　a　distance　to　bee　part　of　this　particular　ryu；　for　there　were　none　such　as　this　in　the　Tokyo　area。　Kansatsu's　words　haunted　him　now　with　intensity　impossible　to　ignore：　There　are　many　ryu　in　Japan；　Nicholas。　Among　these；　the　variety　of　disciples　taught　is　virtually　limitless。　Good　and　evil　are　sometimes　produced　indiscriminately。
　No　wonder　Saigo　had　been　so　furtive　in　his　movements：　so　careful　to　backtrack。
　It　would　be　a　natural　precaution　for　a　ninja。
　For　that　is　precisely　what　he　had　bee。　This　Kumamoto　ryu　was　no　regional　offshoot　but　a　centre。　The　centre；　to　be　more　accurate。
　The　Ninja　are　not　bound　by　the　Way；　Kansatsu　had　said；　and　that　was　correct。　Yet　ninjutsu　was　more　plex　than　that　and；　as　in　bujutsu　itself；　there　were　many　types　propounded　and　taught。　Good　and　evil。　The　black　and　the　red。　Kansatsu　himself　had　shown　it　to　Nicholas　before　he　had　left　Tokyo。　Of　the　red；　he　had　said；　far　and　away　the　most　dangerous；　the　most　virulent　ryu　is　the　Kuji…kiri；　'It　is　the　Chinese　word　for　the　〃nine…hands　cutting〃；　the　basis　for　much　of　the　ninja's　real　or　imagined　power。　It　is　said　by　many　that　these　hand　signs　are　the　last　remaining　vestiges　of　magic　in　the　world。　As　for　me；　I　cannot　say；　but　as　you　yourself　have　e　to　understand；　there　are　times　when　the　dividing　line　between　imagination　and　existence　can　disappear。'　That　was　when　Kansatsu　had　shown　him　the　symbol　of　the　Kuji…kiri　ryu。　It　was　the　one　he　had　seen　on　the　warehouse　door　just　moments　ago。
　He　heard　the　water　running　in　the　bath　next　door；　Yukio　disrobing。
　A　suspicion　was　forming　in　his　mind　now　and　the　more　he　thought　about　it　the　more　certain　he　became。　Had　Kansatsu　known　what　it　was　he　would　find　here？　Perhaps　he　had　only　suspected。　But　why　was　Kansatsu　involved　at　all？
　Abruptly；　Nicholas　had　the　cold　sensation　of　being　manipulated　by　forces　he　had　not　even　suspected　of　existing。　It　was　certain　that　Kansatsu　knew　quite　a　bit　more　about　this　situation　than　he　had　told　Nicholas。　Why　hold　back？
　Outside；　the　moon　had　slipped　its　cloud　mooring　and　now　rode；　unbridled；　in　the　sky。　The　world　was　tinged　with　a　blue　light；　cold　and　harsh　and　monochromatic。　Far　on　the　horizon　…　he　was　certain　now　…　he　could　make　out　the　rising　oblique　volcanic　cone；　its　pale　umbrella　billowing　like　the　aftermath　of　an　explosion　seen　in　slow　motion。　The　still　air　held　the　pumice　dust　in　languid　suspension　like　a　decadent　sprawled　across　his　silk…covered　settee。
　It　seemed　to　him　now　that　the　lines　of　his　life　had　already　been　drawn　by　some　other　hand　at　a　time　when　he　had　been　looking　elsewhere。　As　he　had　said　to　Yukio　this　afternoon；　he　was　mitted。　They　had　been　set　against　one　another；　he　and　Saigo；　from　the　moment　they　had　first　met。　For　what　reason　he　could　not　yet　say；　yet　it　was　a　reality　with　which　he　must　now　deal。
　What　to　do　now？
　He　knew。　He　knew。　And　it　〃terrified　him。
　The　bath　water　had　drained　some　time　ago。　He　got　up　from　where　he　had　been　sitting　in　the　window…bay　and　opened　the　connecting　door　into　Yukio's　room。
　He　paused　on　the　threshold。　The　lights　were　extinguished　and　all　seemed　still。
　He　called　her　name　softly。
　Blue　moonlight　was　awash　along　part　of　the　floor；　interlaced　with　the　oblique　bars　of　shadow　from　the　casement。
　'Yukio？'
　He　went　silently　into　the　room。
　And　immediately　stopped。　Haragei。　Someone　else　was　in　the　room。　He　turned　his　head　without　moving　his　body。　Saw　Yukio　lying　on　the　bed；　a　last　bit　of　light　outlining　the　bridge　of　her　nose。　She　was　on　top　of　the　covers。　The　other　side　of　the　double　bed　had　blanket　and　sheets　drawn　down。　An　impr